Related Links

Organizers for the Tampa Bay Margarita Festival at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park are expanding the tequila-fueled party to include the adjacent Kiley Gardens, adding space for another 2,000 people to attend on Saturday.

Ferdian Jap, a partner with promotions company Big City Events, said half of those additional tickets are already gone and the event is on pace to sell out for its second year, drawing 8,000 people downtown from 1 to 10 p.m..

The second annual festival features a headlining performance by Grammy-winning group Los Lonely Boys, as well as 35 varieties of margaritas ranging from classic to mango-jalapeno, prickly pear, and blood orange varieties.

Live bands will perform throughout the day, and the night will be capped off with a large fireworks show.

Advance tickets are on sale through tampamargaritafest.com for $15. If they’re available, tickets will cost $20 at the gate.

A related Grand Tequila Tasting will be held Friday at the Epicurean Hotel, where attendees can sample more than 40 varieties of tequila with food pairings for $75 per person.